When people hear the town of Williston Florida not much comes to mind. Maybe the peanut festival because it's about peanuts, or maybe Devils Den which is basically a hole in the earth perfect for scuba divers.
However, Cedar Lake Woods and garden does not come to mind. The man-made oasis is hidden behind trees and backroads but its worth the trip.
When people hear the town of Williston Florida not much comes to mind. Maybe the peanut festival because it's about peanuts, or maybe Devils Den which is basically a hole in the earth perfect for scuba divers. However, Cedar Lake Woods and garden does not come to mind. The man-made oasis is hidden behind trees and backroads but its worth the trip.
The Cedar Lake Gardens was once an old abandoned limestone quarry. Which is not surprising as Florida had the highest quality limestone in the 1960s. After areas where extract it left huge gaps in the land whole filled with dirty water and pollution. Dr. Raymond Webber wanted to make a change and clean up the mess we as a society left behind.
As an old lime rock mining area, it was left abandoned and left to the wild. Raymond purchased the quarry and took on the dedicated task of fixing and shaping an oasis in the middle of nowhere. After 26 years of hard work, the botanical gardens has opened the public for all to enjoy the hard work of cleaning and reshaping the wildlife to flourish once again.
Raymond took up gardening and is responsible for the lush plant life that flourishes in the garden. Covered with bridges, pavilions, and gazebos it's like walking into another world once you enter.
To ensure the environment was not inflicted with the development of very specific tasks were created to ensure the life of the environment. For example, concert planters were used to cover the lining of the walls to plant water-friendly plants to keep the water clean and fresh.
The garden also shelters wild animals such a 70 year old tortuous, cattle, horses and exotic birds. The cattle roam the property free and taken care of by volunteers and local vet clinics.
The specific topography of the tress and quarry allows the temperature to remain solid all year round and allow for the plant life to flourish all year. Which mean if you want to visit feel free to whenever you like.
They are open all week except Wednesday and adults only pay $12.00. If you are looking to go with friends or family with at least 12 to 25 people you price drops to $11.00 a person. Also, bring your four-legged friends just be sure to give the garden a heads up as the owner leaves their dog, April, out who is sometimes overprotective.
There are plenty of events planned in the future. One being to Nature ninja Runs taking place in July. It's a 5k run around the 50-acre land covering lush gardens, large open prairies, and run near the nature ponds covering the wilderness. When you register you get your admission covered, free food, custom eco-friendly shirt, custom medal, and the memory of a wonderful day with friends.
The peaceful oasis stands as a representation of what hard work truly means. Raymond had a dream to clean the polluted land we left behind and created a new oasis we can enjoy today. It's a beautiful way to see quarry at its best. I recommend making this a getaway to disconnect from technology and explore the curves and trails this location has to offer. Bring some food and enjoy a delicious lunch in one of the gazebos or one of the many picnic tables.
Don't be afraid to take photos and if you want to use any for commercial use they are open if you give them a heads up.
So what are you waiting for?
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